DUBAI, UAE – President Hakainde Hichilema, speaking on behalf of the African Group of Negotiators, has called on the international community to significantly ramp up efforts on climate action, urging the upcoming COP28 to deliver concrete progress on mitigation, adaptation, loss and damage, and finance.
Addressing the World Climate Action Summit on Friday, Hichilema stressed the urgency of the situation. “The world is registering record-breaking temperatures and remains off-track from meeting the Paris Agreement goals,” he warned. “We need a paradigm shift, a fast-tracked energy transition, and transformed climate finance to avert devastating consequences.”
Zambia’s vast forests, as Hichilema pointed out, play a crucial role in mitigating climate change. He emphasized the need to involve local communities that have safeguarded these ecosystems, ensuring they are fairly compensated for their efforts.
Africa, Hichilema continued, is committed to a just transition to renewable energy by 2023 but requires international support to achieve this ambitious goal. He underscored the importance of strong global collaboration, particularly for the successful completion of the first global stocktake under the Paris Agreement.
“We need strengthened commitments,” Hichilema declared, “with clear pathways for emissions reduction, enhanced resilience, and the necessary financial resources.” He expressed confidence in the UAE’s ability to host a successful COP28, one that operationalizes the loss and damage fund established at COP27 and ensures it is adequately resourced to assist vulnerable nations.
Hichilema’s vision for COP28 extends beyond finance. He called for a comprehensive global stocktake, identifying critical interventions to bridge the gap between current efforts and the Paris Agreement goals. Additionally, he emphasized the need for a robust framework on global adaptation goals, complete with measurable indicators to track progress in building resilience.
While the High-Level Segment for Heads of State and Government concludes today, COP28 continues until December 12th. Hichilema’s message is clear: the world must seize this opportunity to translate commitments into concrete action, ensuring a secure and sustainable future for all.